Mentor, Mentee: Nurita Harith & Jannah Kamal

Sometimes all you need to boost your career, is someone to inspire you. Marie Claire worked with four industry experts – a celebrity chef, a fashion designer, a fitness Youtuber, and a marketing director – and paired them up with four of our readers who aspire to gain an insight into their world. After a week of the mentorship programme, we sat down for a chat with these fashion designer duos, Nurita Harith and Jannah Kamal about their experience and achievements.

THE MENTEE

Jannah Kamal, Fashion Designer

Can you describe what your mentorship was like?

It’s definitely been a great opportunity for me to widen my knowledge and deepen my experience. Whatever experience I’ve gained from my studies has been baby steps. The mentorship programme opened my eyes, especially when I’m looking at it from a different perspective. To learn from someone successful who has the necessary experience is an honour, because it’s not easy for them to share this experience with you.

What is something important you can take away from this mentorship?

The techniques in finishing. I’m really eager to learn draping. I think draping looks good on any woman, any size. Nurita is an expert in this, and I’m very enchanted by the draping technique all of the collections have.

Would you wear what you design?

I’m currently wearing one of my designs! [Jannah gestures towards her outfit]. It’s really hard to look for a size that fits me in the fashion market, that’s the truth. I’m the kind of person who wears whatever I want. Sometimes I follow the trend, sometimes I don’t. The market doesn’t often cater to plus sizes – brands like Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, they’re international brands. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to bring that to the market.

What’s your current favourite trend?

I do bridal designs, and I like to focus on plus sizes. The designer does not really follow the trend. I still keep up to date with trends and info that I need.

Are there any local designers you look up to?

Many of them! One of them is Nurita Harith, why else would I be in this mentorship programme? Besides her, Rizalman and Rizman Ruzaini. If you know me, you know I’m into beading, couture. The person I look up to the most is Rizman. I enjoy learning about embellishment, volume, textures, but maybe not with fabric, but more hands-on appliqué technique.